UK defence sources confirm ‘no plans’ to help as 100 Iranian drones head for Jewish state while Jordan and Saudi Arabia rush to Israel’s aid
Britain has refused to defend Israel from a barrage of Iranian drones following last night’s strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, despite the RAF helping to shoot down similar attacks just eight months ago under the same Labour government.
UK defence sources have confirmed there are “no plans” to help protect Israel as Iran launches approximately 100 attack drones towards Israeli territory in retaliation for Operation Rising Lion, according to British media reports on Friday morning.
The decision marks a dramatic shift from October 2024, when British forces under Keir Starmer’s Labour government actively participated in defending Israel from Iranian missiles and drones.
NO RAF SUPPORT THIS TIME
Sky News reported that British warplanes were not currently involved in helping to defend Israel’s skies, but that this could change as the situation develops.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged both sides to use restraint and return to diplomacy, and Britain was not involved in Israel’s strikes against Iran overnight.
Two British media outlets confirmed that Britain is not currently providing military support to Israel to defend against Iran’s retaliation to overnight Israeli strikes.
REGIONAL ALLIES STEP IN
While Britain stays on the sidelines:
Jordan actively defending:
- Intercepting Iranian missiles and drones entering its airspace
- Military forces on high alert
Saudi Arabia assists:
- Israel given permission to enter Saudi airspace
- Allowing IDF to shoot down Shahed drones
OPERATION RISING LION’S IMPACT
Israel’s overnight strikes delivered major blows:
Confirmed casualties:
- Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps said its top commander, Hossein Salami, was killed
- Military Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri killed
- Six Iranian nuclear scientists were killed on Friday in Israeli strikes, Iranian state media reported
Key targets hit:
- Iran’s nuclear facility at Natanz
- Revolutionary Guard headquarters in Tehran
- Ballistic missile production sites
IRAN’S RETALIATION
Iran has fired about 100 drones into Israeli territory after Israel carried out a major attack on the country’s nuclear sites overnight.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned “severe punishment” would be directed at Israel.
STARMER’S RESPONSE
The Prime Minister issued a statement calling for de-escalation:
The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy added:
“Stability in the Middle East is vital for global security. I’m concerned to see reports of strikes overnight. Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no one’s interest. This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint.”
CONTRAST WITH OCTOBER 2024
The same Labour government took a very different approach eight months ago:
October 2024:
- The United States, Britain, Jordan and France all helped to intercept the massive barrage of drones Iran fired at Israel overnight Saturday, according to officials
- Defence Secretary John Healey said in a statement on X that “British forces have this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East
- RAF jets actively participated in interception efforts
June 2025:
- No military support offered
- Only diplomatic statements
- RAF remaining uninvolved
NETANYAHU’S DECLARATION
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the strikes in a video message:
We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history. Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized: “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said there was no increase in radiation levels at the Natanz nuclear site, citing information provided by Iranian authorities.
MARKET REACTION
Global benchmark Brent futures with August delivery rose 6.3% to $73.73 per barrel at 09:21 a.m. London time.
Airlines scrambled to avoid the region:
- German airline Lufthansa on Friday said it had suspended all flights to and from Tehran
- Dubai-based Emirates cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran as Iran closed its airspace
UK’S POSITION EXPLAINED
The Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office have not provided official comment on why Britain is not offering military support this time, despite doing so in October.
Britain’s foreign office and Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment on any potential British involvement in protecting Israel.
LABOUR’S CHANGING STANCE
The shift represents a significant change in Labour’s approach to Middle East security in just eight months:
- Same Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)
- Same Foreign Secretary (David Lammy)
- Same governing party
- Dramatically different response
THE SITUATION NOW
As Iranian drones head toward Israeli territory:
- Israel’s Iron Dome and air defenses activated
- IDF on highest alert
- Regional allies providing support
- Britain maintaining diplomatic approach only
The UK’s decision not to provide military assistance marks a notable departure from its previous willingness to help defend Israel against Iranian attacks, raising questions about the consistency of British foreign policy in the region.
“Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls Benjamin Netanyahu” by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
